Fabens ISD board pauses forensic audit RFQ and establishes internal audit committee

At a special meeting July 6, the Fabens Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to pause posting of the district's RFQ for a full forensic audit and moved to establish a standing board audit committee to vet internal-audit options.

Administrator Angel Hernandez told trustees the existing RFQ was written as a single full-scope forensic audit covering multiple finance functions but could be left as-is, paused, or republished with subdivided sections (for example: procurement, payroll, grants, accounts payable, internal controls and fraud risk assessment) to allow firms to bid on components. "The original RFQ was for the forensic audit... In the process, there's been discussion. We could continue the way you wanted, which is the full audit... or divide it by sections," Hernandez said.

Several trustees complained prior outreach was limited to the minimum legal posting and did not attract bidders. One trustee said legal posting alone is insufficient to bring in auditors and urged additional promotion and direct outreach to firms; administrators said they met legal posting requirements and could supplement that with calls to firms once the RFQ is posted.

After discussion, a trustee moved to pause the current RFQ; the motion was seconded and the chair called a voice vote. The chair announced the motion to pause the RFQ passed. The transcript records a voice vote; it does not provide a roll-call tally.

Separately, the board considered and approved a resolution establishing a board audit committee to "assist the board" in reviewing audit reports, internal controls, and related fiscal oversight matters. The resolution specifies the committee will be advisory only, consist of three board members appointed by the board president and confirmed by majority vote, and report its findings to the full board. President Estrada nominated Mister Spence and Angel Hernandez to the committee; the board confirmed the appointments by voice vote. The superintendent will attend committee meetings for transparency, the resolution states.

The board paused the RFQ and created the advisory committee to give trustees a smaller group to evaluate firms and scope before returning any formal recommendation to the full board.

What's next: The RFQ remains paused; administration said the board can direct staff to repost, divide, or relaunch the solicitation after additional outreach. The audit committee will be established under the terms in the approved resolution and return recommendations to the full board for formal action.